Ghirahim is one of the main villains of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. He is the lord of the demons unleashed on the surface. At the beginning of the game, he sends a tornado to Skyloft knocking Link and Zelda of their Loftwings.

Link first faces him in Skyview Temple as the dungeon's boss. Ghirahim was trying to force himself through the door to the sacred chamber where he sensed Zelda's precense. During the boss battle, Ghirahim can grab Link's sword unless Link hits him at a certain angle. After Ghirahim is hit enough times, he gets his own sword forcing Link into a duel.

Link also faces him in the Earth Temple, where Zelda was held captive. He was furious to learn his minions failed again to capture Zelda, he again takes his anger out on Link, when he summons Scalerda, the dungeon boss.

After Link Travels through Lanayru Mining Facility, he finally meets up with Zelda at the Temple of Time. The reuinion ends when Ghirahim appears, creating a barrier around Link. He tries to capture Zelda, but is stopped when Impa creates her own barrier. During the chaos, Zelda tosses Link the Goddess' Harp. Ghirahim destroyes Impa's barrier, but is stopped by Link. This buys Impa and Zelda just enough time to enter The Gate of Time. Impa then destroys the Gate behind her to insure Ghirahim can not follow.

Later on in Link's quest, he meets Ghirahim another time in the Ancient Cistern. He is again waiting for Link. He is angered by Link's interruptions. Before leaving, he infuses an old secutrity drone with dark magic. This causes the drone to come back to life as Kolokotos.

Link once again encounters Ghirahim at the Fire Sancutary. Instead of summoning another monster, he decides to take link on himself. Ghirahim reveals his second form and engages Link into a battle, claiming he will have no mercy. Link eventually comes out victorious. Ghirahim is furious he has been bested by a child again.

Ghirahim is unsuccessful in reaching Zelda before Link can destroy Demise in their time; however, the sense of security brought on by Demise's destruction causes Zelda to awaken from her slumber. At this moment, Ghirahim strikes and finally abducts Zelda; he takes her back to the past where Demise is still sealed, but alive, and sacrifices her to his master. Link rushes to stop the ritual, but Ghirahim summons hordes of enemies and magic barriers to slow him down and buy Ghirahim time. Defeating the horde, Link eventually reaches the Demon Lord, who, having grown tired of Link's constant interruptions, decides to finally finish the young hero off in a "humiliating death". Ghirahim reveals his true form as Demise's sword and calls himself a fool for having shown mercy to Link in the first place. Although he is significantly more powerful in this form, Link still triumphs, much to Ghirahim's despair. Ghirahim, however, declares that the ritual continued during the fight, and Zelda's soul is consumed by Demise, who appears in humanoid form and promptly takes his sword back. Ghirahim laughs as he transforms back into his true form: a sword in Demise's hand. When Demise suffers a fatal blow at Link's hand, the Ghirahim-sword disappears shortly before Demise dies and restores Zelda's soul. What this means for Ghirahim's ultimate fate is unknown.